EHA in Russia

February 2012 By commission of Moscow builders and project developers Stroirazvitye, Ector Hoogstad Architecten in collaboration with Hosper Landschapsarchitectuur en Stedenbouw designed a new centre for Svetlogorye, a small municipality 30 kilometers west of Moscow. In the greater Moscow region a lot of former area’s traditionally speckled with dacha’s are now being redeveloped into “new towns”. Stroirazvitye and EHA first met when a Russian delegation visited the Netherlands on a fact finding mission concerning sustainability. EHA’s integral approach to the subject – stressing also social issues as a key element in sustainability – led to the Russian guests’ understanding that adding amenities such as shopping and education could very well serve as a means of creating social cohesion for their new communities. Eventually this resulted in a commission – EHA’s first project in Russia. The design that was presented last week in Amsterdam integrates shops, education, healthcare, leisure, childcare and several types of housing with a strong structure of public spaces. Pending approval, the next stage of the project will presumably be entered in march.